Last 16
Turkey – Romania
Preview:
Turkey lost surprisingly to Finland 3-4 before winning against Ireland (6-1) and Slovakia (3-1).
Romania drew with Poland in round three (2-2) but won against Macedonia, Scotland and Lithuania (5-0, 8-1, 4-1).
These are the most successful national teams recently and just maybe Romania’s two straight golds in international tournaments can indicate that they have the tools to advance beyond Turkey?
Goals:
0-1 (0-0, 0-0, 0-1)
Shots:
10-19 (6-4, 2-8, 2-7)
Analysis:
Late GWG in the 58th minute: heartbreaking for Turkey.
But the stats show that Romania won the shots 15-4 in last two periods and thus earned the victory.
Turkey’s goalie Semin was excellent and the lone goal came from Poalelungi.
Denmark – Norway
Preview:
Denmark opened the EC with draws against Slovenia and Ukraine. Not that impressive. But they won against Germany and Moldavia and are probably happy to meet their neighbour in the Last 16.
Norway lost against Portugal (2-4) but won against Israel, Northern Ireland and Austria.
A prestigeous local derby where Denmark must be regarded as the favourite. But Norway will not go down easy so both NCs will have to dig deep to find a win.
Goals:
2-5 (0-0, 1-2, 1-3)
Shots:
10-22 (5-7, 4-5, 1-10)
Analysis:
Close game for 40 minutes but in the last period Norway had so much more in the tank and won easily against a surprisingly tired home team.
Finland – France
Preview:
Finland took a famous victory against Turkey and won their group easily. Can they build on that in the play offs?
France also won their group with wins against Greece and Netherlands but an inexplicably draw against the jumbo Hungary in the last round.
Did France rest in the last round or what? This ought to be a close contest but neither team can sit back in this game: who wants the win most?
Goals:
1-4 (0-0, 0-1, 1-3)
Shots:
10-18 (4-5, 3-6, 3-7)
Analysis:
France took advantage of Finlands fatigue in the last period when they scored two fast goals that decided the outcome of the game.
Sweden – Poland
Preview
Sweden won their group but drew with Switzerland before beating Bulgaria and Latvia. Sweden is longing for an international success…
Poland tied their group with Romania and are looking very strong. Poland is longing for an international success…
This will be a nervous encounter that might go to overtime. Or maybe one team will collapse under all the expectations. Time will tell.
Goals:
3-4 OT (1-0, 2-0, 0-3, 0-1)
Shots:
14-19 (3-9, 10-2, 1-7, 0-1)
Analysis:
The first period was dominated by Poland but Sweden sneaked away the lead in the 5th minute.
The second period saw the best hockey that Sweden played this tournament and two goals gave the home team a comfortable 3-0 cushion.
The third period was only Poland once again but this time they got the puck in the net three times in five minutes.
No surprise that the OT-goal came from Poland and all in all a well deserved victory for Poland.
Greece – Portugal
Preview:
Greece were second to France and are probably very content with that.
Portugal didn’t impress in the group stage where they lost against Austria (2-5). A win against Norway (4-2) took them to the play offs but now Portugal need to take advantage of a great draw.
Portugal ought to win quite easily.
Goals:
5-4 OT (1-1, 1-0, 2-3, 1-0)
Shots:
23-18 (6-4, 9-5, 4-8, 4-1)
Analysis:
Wow, what a crazy game! Greece surprised Portugal and had the lead with 2-1 after 40 minutes.
But the last period was pure helter skelter…
Portugal, determined to show their true colours, stormed forward to a 2-3 lead after two goals in 80 seconds (42nd and 44th minute).
And then they think that they won the game with 2-4 in the 51st.
But Greece doesn’t know surrender: they score on the last two shots of regulation and tie the game.
And, well deserved, they win in OT in the 67th minute. Portugal is still trying to understand what actually happened.
Switzerland – Belarus
Preview:
Switzerland played three even games in the group. A win (4-2) against Latvia but a bad draw against Bulgaria followed their impressive 1-1 against Sweden in round one.
Belarus beat Belgium 4-2 and Estonia 4-3. A loss against Italy and another win against Croatia. Pretty impressive all in all.
Belarus shouldn’t be that much of a underdog here. Switzerland need to step up to win but can they improve on thier effort in round one? They might have to.
Goals:
2-4 (0-1, 2-2, 0-1)
Shots:
18-17 (5-6, 5-7, 8-4)
Analysis:
Switzerland won the shots but trailed in goals from the 12th minute.
They scored 1-2 and 2-3 but was never able to solve Malakovich in the Belarus goal, who won the game for the visitors.
Spain – Slovenia
Preview:
Spain took three comfortable wins in the group stage including 4-1 against the Czechs.
Slovenia also won their group after a draw with Denmark and victories against Germany, Moldova and Ukraine.
Spain must win this game and they can hardly miss out on a medal with this schedule. Unless they can’t handle the pressure…
Goals:
9-0 (1-0, 2-0, 6-0)
Shots:
33-10 (15-0, 7-10, 11-0)
Analysis:
Spain put on a clinic and showed everyone how to dominate a MZH-game.
But Slovenia didn’t fold that easily and after 36 minutes it was still just 1-0.
And arguebly the visitor deserved a better outcome in the second period.
But in the third things got quite embarassing…
Belgium – Czech Republic
Preview:
Belgium eliminated Italy (2-1) and destroyed Estonia (10-2). But they suffered 2-4 against Belarus.
Czech won against Russia (3-2) but took a beating by Spain (1-4).
A very even contest and hard to pick a winner. But Belgium has scored a lot and that might be useful!
Goals:
1-3 (1-0, 0-0, 0-3)
Shots:
11-19 (2-7, 5-7, 4-5)
Analysis:
Belgium lucked in to an early lead and hold on desperately.
In the 51st the Czechs tied the game and then they won it with goals in the 57th and 60th.
Belgium had three straight shots on goal following 1-1 and this was a very hard fought match.
Last 8
Norway – Romania
1-7 (0-2, 0-4, 1-1)
6-28 (3-8, 1-11, 2-9)
Analysis:
Not very interesting, a very easy win for Romania.
Poland – France
3-5 (0-3, 3-0, 0-2)
21-17 (7-4, 7-6, 7-7)
Analysis:
A strang seesaw game where France scored at will on Poland, while Poland struggled with their efficiency.
Belarus – Greece
1-3 (1-0, 0-0, 0-3)
8-20 (2-9, 2-6, 4-5)
Analysis:
Greece built on their win against Portugal and dominated Belarus even though they waited with the scoring until the last ten minutes.
Czech Republic – Spain
2-5 (1-2, 1-2, 0-1)
12-20 (4-7, 6-9, 2-4)
Analysis:
Spain does make it seem easy. Going for gold?
Semifinals
France – Romania
1-5 (0-0, 0-4, 1-1)
7-25 (4-6, 1-10, 2-9)
Analysis:
France tried desperately to shut this game down but 0-1 in the 25th minute broke their dream of a final and allowed Romania rightfully to advance.
Spain – Greece
3-2 (1-1, 0-0, 2-1)
21-8 (9-1, 6-3, 6-4)
Analysis:
Once again Greece overpreforms. Spain take the lead but Greece ties the game with their only shot on goal in the first period.
The second period is quite even, and when the Spaniards take the lead again in the third period, Greece immediately equalizes.
The GWG comes in the 51st minute and Greece then finish the game with three more shots on the Spanish keeper.
Well deserved win for Spain but an excellent effort by Greece!
Final
Romania – Spain
2-1 (0-0, 1-0, 1-1)
15-14 (4-5, 6-1, 5-8)
Analysis:
A very even and great final between the two very best teams in this EC!
The first period is very tight. The second is Spain worst period of the playoffs.
The third sees Spain roaring back but they can’t deny Romania the late victory.
Immediately after the equalizer Spain surrender the GWG 2-1 in the.
Romania wins their third straight international trophy and truly rules the MZH-world!
Play Off Tree:
EC 2016 Rank:
EC 2016 Scoring Leaders:
Written by Prednibe
aussiezone 